if? 

In 

in 

CO 

CO 


"taajEnfffgi^ 
EX  L1BRIS 


DISCOURSE, 

Before 

THE   SOCIETY  FOR 

PROPAGATING   THE  GOSPEL  AMONG  THE 

INDIANS,  AND  OTHERS,  IN 

A'ORTH  AMERICA. 


On  the  \st  of  November,    1804, 


Br  REV.    L  E  V  I  F  R  I  S  B 

Pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Ipswich. 


Cbarkstoivn  : 

FRINTED  BY  SAMUEL  ETHERIDGE. 


AT  a  meeting  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel  among  the  Indians,  and  others  in  North  Amer 
ica,  on  the  first  of  November,  1804. 

Voted,  That  the  Rev.  Dr.  LATHROP,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
ELIOT,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  ECKLEY,  be  a  Committee,  to 
return  the  thanks  of  the  Society  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
FRISBIE  for  his  excellent  Sermon,  delivered  before 
th'eiMhis  <Jay>  ap3  tp*e<niest  a  copy  of  it  for  the  press. 

.  -V:  •':•  *'::- ':  Jfc#U>IAH  MORSE,  Secretary. 


DISCOURSE,  &c. 


ACTS  VIII.  5,  6,  7,  8. 

'Then  Philip  went  down  to  the  city  of  Samaria, 
and  preached   Chrijl  unto   them  •  And  the 

people  with  one  accord  gave  heed  unto  thofe 
things  'which  Philip  f pake  ^  hearing  and  fee 
ing  the  miracles  which  he  did.  For  unclean 

fpirits  crying  with  a  loud  voice  came  out  of 
many  that  'were  poffeffed  with  them  ;  and 
many  taken  'with  palfies^  and  that  were  lame^ 
•were  healed :  And  there  was  great  joy  in 
that  city. 

JL  HE  changes,  which  take  place  in  the 
condition  and  character  of  cities  and  nations, 
are  wonderful  !  While  the  people  of  Jerufa- 
lem  defpife  and  perfecute  the  gofpel  of 
Chrift  ;  the  Samaritans  receive  it  with  thank- 
fulnefs  and  joy  !  They  were  a  people  of  a 
ftrange  original,  and  a  fingular  character  : 
memorable  for  their  error  and  duplicity  in 


[    4    J 

religion,  for  their  numerous  immoralities, 
and  for  various  calamitous  revolutions. 
They  were,  at  this  time,  involved  in  igno 
rance,  finfulnefs,  and  guilt  ;  afflicted  with 
demons  and  difeafes,  and  infatuated  with  the 
diftr acting  enchantments  of  Simon  the  for- 
eefer.  Philip,  by  the  truth  and  power  of 
the  gofpel,  prelented  and  applied  an  effectual 
remedy  to  all  their  diforders.  He  poured 
light  upon  their  benighted  minds,  hope  and 
peace  into  their  guilty  hearts  ;  difpenfed 
health  and  comfort  to  their  difeafed  bodies, 
liberty  froni  tormenting  demons,  and  from 
the  delufions  of  an  impious  impoftor.  They 
had  therefore  abundant  reafons  for  tranf- 
ports  of  joy. 

But  were  they  the  only  people  whofe  nat 
ural  and  moral  diforders  required  the  heal 
ing  power  of  the  gofpel,  or  who  were  filled 
by  its  falutary  light  and  influence  with  emo 
tions  of  great  joy  ?  By  no  means.  They 
were  but  an  epitome  of  mankind  ;  an  affect 
ing  example  of  the  deplorable  condition  of 
the  whole  human  race.  And  their  joy  was 
but  a  fpecimen  of  the  joy  of  every  perfon, 
family,  and  people,  who  believe  the  truth, 
and  receive  the  bleffmgs  of  the  gofpel  of 
peace.  For  GOD  has  deiigned  and  adapted 


[    5  .] 

this  gofpel  to  be  a  light  to  lighten  the 
tiles,  and  the  glory  of  his  people  Ifrael.  To 
be  glad  tidings  of  great  joy  to  all  people  ; 
to  proclaim  peace  upon  earth,  and  the  divine 
good  will  to  man,  to  the  remoteft  ends  of 
the  world* 

THE  fubjecl,  therefore,  naturally  fugged- 
ed  by  the  text,  to  our  ferious  consideration, 
is  this  : 

THAT  the  gofpel  of  falvatlon  mujl  prove  a 
fource  of  great  joy  to  all  'who  cordially  hear^  tin- 
derjland)  and  receive  it. 

THE  gofpel  is  capable  of  producing  great 
joy,  becaufe  it  is  defigned  and  adapted  to 
deliver  us  from  grievous  and  complicated 
evils,  and  to  confer  upon  us  the  enjoyment 
of  precious  and  everlafting  benefits.  And 
to  illuflrate  the  truth  of  pur  doctrine,  it  may 
be  ufeful  to  confider, 

Ift.  THE  evils,  from  which  the  gofpel  is 
fuited  and  intended  to  deliver  us.  And, 

Ildly,  THE  bleflings  which  it  promifes  and 
communicates  to  all  thofe,  who  cordially  re 
ceive  it. 

Ift.  THE  evils,  from  which  the  gcfpel  is 
adapted  and  defigned  to  deliver  the  finful 
children  of  men,  are,  that  ignorance,  fmful- 
nefs,  guilt,  and  mifery,  which  had  ov£r- 


[    6    ] 

fpread  all  the  nations  of  the  earth.  They 
had  loft  the  knowledge  of  the  living  God,  of 
themfelves,  of  their  duty,  their  dignity,  and 
happinefs,  and  had  funk  into  a  deplorable 
ftate  of  fpiritual  delufion,  flavery,  and  death. 
There  was  indeed  a  time,  when  mankind 
were  acquainted  with  their  Maker  ;a*  when 
they  beheld  the  face  of  God  in  the  mirror 
of  his  works  ;  but  fuch  was  the  depraved 
difpofition  of  their  hearts,  that  when  they 
knew  God,  they  glorified  him  not  as  God, 
neither  were  they  thankful,  but  became 
vain  in  their  imaginations,  and  their  fool- 
ifh  heart  was  darkened  ;  and,  profeffmg 
themfelves  to  be  wife,  they  becarne  fools. 
When  we  read  the  firil  chapter  of  St.  Paul's 
Epiftle  to  the  Romans,  how  are  we  afflidled 
and  difgufted  with  the  difmal  picture,  which 
he  has  there  given  of  the  human,  and  efpec- 
ially  of  the  Roman  character  and  condition  ? 
And  when  we  confult  the  teftimonies  of  con 
temporary  authors,  how  are  we  furprifed  to 
find  them  drawing  the  fame  picture  of  de 
formity  with  features  fo  exceedingly  firmlar  ?b 
How  foon  did  mankind  rebel  againft  the 
voice  of  nature,  of  reafon,  and  of  the  gra 
cious  and  awful  difpenfations  of  Providence  ? 
The  earth  was  overfpread  with  wickednefs  ; 

*  See  Notes  at  the  end. 


[    7    ] 

It  was  overwhelmed  with  a  flood  ;  but  the 
deluge  did  not  wafh  away  the  iniquity  and 
pollution  of  the  human  heart  !  Men  rap 
idly  degenerated  into  error,  idolatry,  and 
fin.  The  reafon  was,  they  did  not  like  to 
retain  GOD  in  their  knowledge.  The  infin 
ite  purity  and  fplendor  of  his  majefty  were 
too  dazzling  for  their  weak  and  diftexnpered 
fight.  His  laws,  and  worfhip  were  too  ftri<5t 
and  holy  to  meet  the  approbation  of  their 
perverted  minds.  Therefore  they  invented 
gods  more  fenfible,  more  congenial  and  in 
dulgent  to  their  imaginations  and  appetites. 
And,  having  transferred  to  thefe  fi<flitious 
deities  the  paffions  and  vices  of  depraved 
humanity,  they  honoured  and  worfhipped 
them  with  rites  and  offerings  correfpondent 
to  their  characters,  and  to  die  corrupted  and 
bewildered  fentiments  and  propenfities  of 
their  own  hearts.  For  the  character,  the 
government,  and  the  laws  of  fuch  gods  they 
could  have  no  cordial  veneration.  They 
fometimes  trembled  before  them,  and  at 
tempted  to  appeafe  their  anger  with  coftly 
vi&ims  and  cruel  facrifices  ;  but  how  often, 
when  they  were  not  fuccefsful,  was  their 
flavifh  terror  converted  into  impious  repin 
ing,  inlult,  and  contempt  ?  Ignorant  of  GOD, 


[    8    ] 

they  neither  knew  nor  reverenced  their  own 
natures  as  fubjects  of  dignified,  rational,  and 
immortal  fpirits.  Having  no  ideas  of  an 
immortal  exiftence,  or  of  future  rewards  and 
punifhments,  but  fuch  as  were  confufed, 
fabulous,  and  extravagant,  they  felt  and 
aflumed  a  liberty  of  plunging  into  all  kinds 
of  injuftice,  treachery,  and  violence. 

BUT  it  is  poflible  that  the  dreary  picture 
which  has  been  drawn  of  the  gentile  ftate 
and  character,  however  warranted  by  ancient 
hiftory  and  modern  obfervation,  will  not  be 
permitted  to  pafs  for  a  juft  likenefs  of  the 
whole  heathen  world. 

LET  it  then  be  acknowledged  that  the 
learning,  the  policy,  the  patriotifm,  liberty, 
and  virtue  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans  have 
been  admired  and  celebrated,  by  the  hifto- 
rians,  poets,  and  orators  of  all  ages  ;  yet  in 
the  enlightened  view  of  true  philofophy  and 
religion,  how  greatly  is  their  glory  obfcured 
and  degraded  ?  Their  boafted  patriotifm  and 
love  of  liberty,  what  were  they  better,  except 
in  a  few  inftances,  than  a  reftlefs,  infatiable 
luft  of  advancing  and  eftablifhing  their  own 
perfonal  and  national  wealth,  grandeur,  and 
glory,  upon  the  fubjection  and  flavery  of  all 
furrounding  nations  ?  If,  in  the  early  ftages 


t   9   ] 

of  their  republics,  they  were  diftinguiflied 
by  more  liberal  and  generous  fentiments,  yet 
in  proportion  as  they  rofe  in  power,  riches, 
and  greatiiefs,  they  funk  in  probity  and  vir 
tue  ;-  until,  by  their  pride,  licentioufnefs,  and 
faction,  they  had  facrificed  their  liberty  and 
independence  to  emperors  and  tyrants,  and 
exhibited  to  all  nations  and  ages  an  example 
of  a  Hill  more  wretched  flavery  to  the  fordid 
amd  imperious  paffions  of  riot,  luxury,  cru 
elty,  and  wickednefs.  Nothing  lefs  had 
been  fufficieiit  to  fatisfy  their  ambition  than 
abfolute  dominion  over  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth  ;  and,  by  their  attempts  to  accomplifli 
this  extravagant  project,  and  the  improve 
ment  they  made  of  their  conquefts,  they 
deluged  the  world  with  blood,  and  torment 
ed  its  inhabitants  with  infinite  mifchiefs  and 
miferies, 

AND  what  was  their  philofophy  but  ail 
incoherent  fyftem  of  pompous  {peculations, 
embellifhed  indeed  with  fome  fc altered  rays 
of  truth,  but  corrupted  and  obfcured  by 
predominant  {hades  of  error,  fophiftry,  and 
arrogance  ? 

THEIR  virtue  was  a  ftranger  to  humility  ; 
an  alien  from  true  love  to  GOD  and  benevo 
lence  to  man  ;  it  was  the  offspring  of  pride, 
B 


t    10    ] 

fubtilty,  and  a  thirfl  of  glory.  It  had  noty 
even  with  the  afliftance  of  all  their  philofo- 
phy  and  refinement,  either  the  will  or  the  abil 
ity  to  enlighten  and  reform  the  body  of  the 
people,  to  purify  their  religion,  or  amend 
their  hearts, but  left  themunder  the  full  domin 
ion  of  polytheifm  and  idolatry,  and  fuffered 
their  fervices  and  rites  of  worfhip  to  remain 
corrupted  and  deformed  by  all  the  deteftable 
extravagance,  impurity,  and  fuperftition,  of 
the  moft  barbarous  pagans. 

IF  we  attend  to  the  nation  of  the  Jews  j; 
they  had  received  from  heaven  the  lively 
oracles  of  GOD,  which  taught  them  his  per 
fections,  his  worfhip,  and  his  will,  and  the 
principles  and  benefits  of  private  and  public 
wifdom,  virtue,.-  and  happinefs  ;  but  they 
deferted  their  GOD,  corrupted  their  religion, 
and  became  flaves  to  the  power  of  their 
crimes  and  their  enemies  ;  and,  having  loft 
all  jufl  ideas  of  the  character  and  defign  of 
their  long  predicted  Meffiah^  they  expected 
him,  not  as  a  Saviour  from  the  bondage  and 
mifery  of  fin,  but  as  a  prince  and  a  hero, 
who  would  conduct  them  to  liberty,  con- 
queft,  and  glory  above  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth.  When  therefore  the  Saviour  appear 
ed,  detected  and  condemned  that  ignorance^ 


[  11  ] 

pride,  hyppcrify,  and  wickednefs,  which  had 
polluted  and  degraded  all  ranks  and  ages  of 
people,  they  were  exafperated  to  rage,  and 
malice  againft  him  ;  they  vilified,  perfecut- 
.ed,  and  finally  murdered  him  by  a  mod 
painful  and  ignominious  execution.  And 
now  the  fun  of  righteoufnefs  feemed  to  have 
jfet  forever,  and  all  mankind  to  be  involved 
in  a  gloomy  night  of  ignorance,  delufion, 
wickednefs,  and  death  ;  from  which  it  was 
impoflible,  they  could  arife  into  light,  liber 
ty,  and  happinefs,  without  the  interpofition 
of  the  infinite  power  and  mercy  of  GOD. 
Thefe  divine  perfections  did  interpofe  for 
the  inftruction  and  falvation  of  a  periihing 
world.  Which  leads  us  to  confider,  in  the 

lid  PLACED  the  bleflings  which  the  gofpel, 
the  medium  of  this  divine  interpofition, 
promifes  and  communicates  to  all  who  cor-^ 
dially  receive  it,  and  fo  proves  to  them,  as 
our  dodtrine  aflerts,  a  fource  of  exceeding 
great  joy.  And  it  proves  fuch  a  fource,  be- 
caufe,  in  the 

ift  PLACE,  it  reveals  to  them  the  LORD 
JESUS  CHRIST,  the  Son  of  GOD,  who  came 
into  the  world  to  heal  the  diforders,  and  ex 
pel  the  miferies  of  mankind ;  to  give  light 
to  the  gentiles,  life  and  falvation  to  the  ends 


[    12    ] 

of  the  earth.  To  accomplish  this  great  and 
benevolent  end  his  incarnation,  doctrines, 
miracles,  f  ufferings,  refurreelion,  and  afcen- 
fi  on  into  glory  ;  the  effufions  of  his  Spirit, 
the  preaching  of  his  apofllcs  and  miniilers, 
were  all  defigned  and  adapted  :  they  declar 
ed,  they  exemplified,  the  adorable  perfec 
tions  and  government  of  GOD,  that  affem- 
blagc  of  majefty  and  mercy,  dignity  and 
condefcenfion,  holinefs  and  grace,  which 
unite  in  the  divine  character  and  works. 
They  taught  mankind  the  knowledge  of 
their  relation  and  obligation  to  GOD,  as  their 
creator,  benefactor6,  and  friend.  They  in- 
flru6ted  them  in  the  knowledge  of  the  dig 
nity  and  deftination  of  their  immortal  na 
tures,  the  depravity  and  ruin  to  which  they 
were  degraded  by  fin,  their  accountablenefs 
to  God,  the  refurreclion  of  their  bodies, 
their  appearance  at  his  righteous  tribunal, 
and  their  final  confignrneiit  to  endlefs  hap- 
pinefs,  or  mifery,  according  to  their  works. 

BUT  could  thefe  folemn  truths  prove  a 
fource  of  joy  to  guilty  criminals  ?  No  ;  they 
were  intended  primarily  to  roufe  their  atten 
tion,  to  alarm  their  confciences,  and  to  im- 
prefs  their  minds  with  an  effectual  convic 
tion  of  their  finfulnefs  and  guilt;  and  of 


[    13    ] 

that  gulf  of  darknefs  and  perdition  into 
which  their  fins  were  plunging  them  head 
long.  Such  a  conviction  alone  can  render 
men  duly  ienfible  of  their  abfolute  need  of 
an  Almighty  Saviour.  For  if  they  are  not 
fufficiently  convinced  of  the  greatnefs  an$ 
malignity  of  their  moral  diforders,  and  their 
want  of  all  merit  to  atone,  for  them,  or 
power  to  remove  them,  how  can  they  pofli- 
bly  be  fenfible  of  the  neceflity  of  an  all  per 
fect  Phyfician  ;  or  perceive,  in  the  proviiion 
of  fuch  a  Phyfician,  the  difplay  of  divine 
wifdom,  holinefs,  and  grace  ?  And  if  it  con 
tains  no  difplay  of  thefe  perfections,  it  bears 
not  the  lignature  of  GOD,  it  is  not  diftin- 
guifhed  from  a  fyftem  of  impoflure  and  de 
ceit.  Thofe,  therefore,  who  would  effectually 
examine  the  divine  original  of  the  gofpel, 
muft  bring  to  this  examination  a  mind  im- 
pifeffed  with  a  fenfe  of  fin,  and  of  the  necefli 
ty  of  a  method  of  falvation  by  unmerited 
grace  ;  otherwife,  it  is  a  wonder  if  their 
prejudices,  and  their  pre-attachment  to  the 
deluding  enjoyments  of  the  world,  do  not 
impel  them  to  view  this  gofpel  with  fuch 
doubt  and  indifference,  as  will  finally  degen 
erate  into  infidelity  and  contempt. 


{     14    1 

THE  pagans  were   not    totally  deftitutc 
of  this  kind  of  preparation  for  the  belief  and 
reception  of  the  gofpel  of  peace.     For,  how 
ever  deeply  they  were  involved  in  the  gloom 
of  ignorance  and  wickednefs,  yet  they  de-* 
rived  from  nature  and  tradition  some  gleams 
of  falutary  light,  by  which  they  were  made 
partially  and  painfully  fenfible  of  the  c^for^ 
der  and  mifery  into  which  they  had  fallen. 
Their  confciences  did  not  wholly  forbear  to 
reproach  them  for  their  unnatural  and  atro^ 
cioxis  crimes,  and  to  affure  them  "  that  thofe, 
who   commit  fuch    things    are  worthy  of 
death."     For  that  fenfe  of  the  intimate  con 
nection  there  is  between  the  works  and  wa 
ges  of  iniquity,  which  the  God  of  nature  has 
implanted  in  the  human   breaft,  is  feldom 
totally  obliterated  by  all  the  ftupifying  pow 
er   of  ignorance   and    vice.      Hence  their 
ftrange  and  coilly   offerings,   their  human 
vidtims*.  their  facrifice  of  friendly  and  filial 
blood,  to  appeafe  the  anger  of  their  gods. 
But  when  the  gofpel  fhone  upon  them,  it 
difcovered  to  them  in  the  ftrongeft  light, 
their  fin,  their  danger,  and  their  remedy  ; 
and  caufed  them  at  once  both  to   tremble 
and  rejoice.     While  it  unveiled  to  their  view 
that  threefold  chain  of  ignorance,  wicked- 


[    15   3 

nefs,  and  guilt,  by  which  they  were  bound, 
it  revealed  the  hand,  which  was  both  able 
and  willing  to  burft  it  aflmder  ;  the  hand 
which  was  ftretched  out  to  give  fight  to  the 
blind,  healing  and  liberty  to  the  wounded, 
broken  hearted,  captive.  By  the  energy  of 
its  light  and  power  it  diflipated  their  dark- 
hefs  "and  delufion,  expelled  their  idols  and 
demons,  filenced  their  lying  oracles,  con 
founded  their  magicians,  and  difcovered  to 
their  deluded  votaries  the  falfehood  and  arro 
gance  of  their  impious  devices  and  presump 
tuous  pretenfions  ;  and  thus  exhibited  with 
the  brighteft  evidence,  the  dignity,  excel 
lence,  and  glory  of  him,  who  was  indeed 
the  mighty  power  of  GOD. 

And  if  the  operations  of  the  fpirit  and 
truth  of  the  gofpel  have  been  lefs  powerful, 
rapid,  and  wonderful  in  lucceeding  ages, 
yet  they  have  been  fubftantially  the  fame, 
and  have  produced  fimilar  effedls  among  the 
ignorant  and  deluded  pagans  and  favages 
both  in  Afia  and  America.  Witnefs  the  te£ 
timonies  of  an  Eliot,  a  Mayhew,  a  Brainard, 
and  of  many  others,  who  have  laboured  with 
pious  courage  and  zeal  in  thefe  wild  and 
ftubborn  regions  of  God's  husbandry.  As 
all  have  finned  and  deftroyed  themfelves, 


[     16-] 

and  the   whole  world,   both  barbarous   and 
civilized,  is  become  guilty  before  God,  there 
fore    to    every    one,    who  effectually    under- 
ftaiids  and' believes   the  gofpel,  it   mufl  be 
come  a  fource  of  powerful  convLdlion   and 
contrition,  and  of  pure  and  fubftantial  joy. 
How  is  it^poflible   it  ihould  be   otherwife  ? 
For,  while  it  difcovers  to  them  their  deplor 
able  ignorance,  their  aggravated  offences,  the 
wrath  of  God  revealed  from  heaven  againft 
their  unrighteoiifnefs,  and  ungodliiiefs,  and 
fills  them  with  awful  apprehenfions  of  end- 
leis  darknefs  and  perdition,  it  does,  at  the 
fame  time,  reveal  to  their  admiring  view  the 
boundlefs  compaffion  of  God,  and  the  per 
fect  fuitablenefs  and  all-fufficiency  of  his  Son 
Jefus  Chrift.     It  offers  him  to  their  accept 
ance  as  a  Saviour   and  advocate  of  infinite 
dignity,  merit,  and  mercy  ;  who,  by  his  obe 
dience  and  death  has  obtained  for  finners  a 
complete  and  everlafting  falvation  :  a  falva- 
tion    confiding  in  the  full  pardon  of  nu 
merous  and  aggravated  offences  ;  in  peace 
and  acceptance  with  God,  adoption  into  his 
family,  deliverance  from  the  dominion  and 
pollution  of  fin,  and  an.intereft  in   all  the 
grace  and   affiflance    neceffary  to   a  fleady 
perfeverance    in   faith  and  holinefs  to  the 
end  of  life  ;   a  falvation  commencing  wi&h 


[    17    ] 

hope,  peace,  and  purity,  and  terminating  in 
the  final  enjoyment  of  everlafting  bleflednefs 
and  perfe&ion,  in  the  kingdom  of  glory. 

WE  obferve  sdly,  that  when  chriftians  con- 
(icier  the  evil  principles  and  propensities  of 
their  nature,  and  feel  their  total  inability  to 
maintain  a  courfe  of  lively  faith  and  obedi 
ence  in  oppofition  to  that  numerous  hoft  of 
enemies  and  temptations,  which  furround 
them,  and  watch  for  their  definition,  they 
muft  greatly  rejoice  in  that  ample  provifion, 
which  is  made  in  the  gofpel  for  their  direc 
tion,  fupport,  and  prefervation  :  a  provifion, 
which  propofes  and  promifes  the  Son  of  GOD 
for  the  all-powerful  and  gracious  captain  of 
their  falvation,  engages  to  give  and  contin 
ue  to  them  the  inftrudlions  and  influences  of 
his  holy  Spirit,  to  guide,  defend,  and  comfort 
them  in  their  wearifome  and  dangerous  pil 
grimage  through  the  wildernefs  of  this  world ; 
and  to  conduct  them  to  a  crown  of  life,  a 
manfion  of  reft,  and  a  triumph  of  glory  in 
the  heavenly  Canaan, 

3dly.  WHAT  afliftance  and  fatisfadlion  do 
they  derive  from  divine  ordinances  ?  Thefe 
are  the  clduds  which  diftill  the  heavenly 

manna  ;  precious  medixims  of  fpiritual  inter- 
c 


[     13    ] 

courfe  with  GOD,  of  the  manifeftation  of  his 
perfections,  the  communications  of  his  grace, 
and  of  offering  up  to  him  the  facrifices  of 
holy,  worfhip  and  heavenly  affection.  Thefe 
ordinances,  they  are  perfuaded,  are  of  the 
higheft  importance  to  propagate  truth,  to 
promote  virtue  and  holinefs,  and  to  main 
tain  a  fenfe  of  GOD  and  religion  in  the  hearts 
of  their  children,  their  friends,  and  their  fel 
low-citizens  \  and  that  nothing  can,  therefore, 
aim  a  more  deadly  blow  at  the  civil  and  moral 
purity,  dignity,  and  happinefs  of  a  people, 
than  a  bold  or  infidious  attempt  to  render 
their  religious  inftitutions  and  ordinances, 
objects  of  neglect,  contempt,  and  rejection, 
THEREFORE,  4thly,  the  gofpel  mull  be  a 
fource  of  joy  to  all  fincere  chriftian  patriots, 
on  account  of  its  powerful  influence  to  pro 
mote  and  fecure  the  order  and  happinefs  of 
fociety.  Virtue,  confifting  in  juftice,  integ 
rity,  and  benevolence,  is  the  foul  of  an  har 
monious,  and  well  regulated  community  ; 
the  vital,  attractive, principle,  which  animates 
and  unites  all  its  members.  But  it  might 
be  as  wifely  expecled  that  grapes  would  grow 
upon  thorns,  as  that  virtue  would  flourifh 
on  any  other  ftock,  than  that  of  religion. 
And  is  it  poffible  to  find  a  religion,  which 


[    19    ] 

contains  a  collection  of  laws,  a  fyftem  of 
truths,  and  ordinances  fo  friendly  to  virtue, 
and  fo  powerfully  efficacious  to  cherifh  and 
•extend  it,  as  the  religion  of  the  gofpel  ?  E- 
ven  infidels  acknowledge  the  fuperior  purity 
and  perfection  of  gofpel  precepts,  the  mild- 
nefs  and  liberality  of  that  virtue,  which  they 
enjoin,  and  the  majefty  and  energy  of  thofe 
motives,  by  which  they  enforce  it.c  Thefe 
precepts  and  motives  operate  powerfully  to 
purify  the  fprings,  and  to  foften  the  rigor  of 
civil  government ;  they  perfuade  and  impel  the 
heart  of  the  magistrate  to  the  love  and  prac 
tice  of  wifdom,  juftice,  and  chriftian  patriot- 
iftn,  by  railing  his  attention  to  an  all-perfe6t 
Sovereign,  in  whofe  prefence  all  earthly  dif- 
tindtions  are  equalized  ;  in  whofe  view,  pride, 
injuftice,  and  cruelty ,are  infinitely  odious  and 
criminal  ;  right eoufnefs,  purity,  and  lenity, 
exceedingly  amiable  and  laudable,  and  at 
whofe  tribunal  they  fhall  finally  receive  an 
everlafting  recompenfe.  At  the  fame  time 
the  precepts  and  motives  of  this  religion  al 
lure  and  conftrain  the  heart  of  the  fubjedt  to 
that  reverence  for  the  laws  and  minifters  of 
government,  and  to  that  juftice,  fidelity, 
and  benevolence  toward  his  fellow-citizens, 
which  moft  effectually  promotes  focial  har- 


[     20    ] 

rnony  and  happinefs  :  they  guard  him  in, 
public,  they  watch  him  in  fecret,  to  deter 
him,  not  only  from  the  deeds  of  covert  wick- 
ednefs,  but  even  from  thofe  paffions  and  im 
aginations^  which,  if  indulged,  might  termi 
nate  in  works  of  impiety  and  unrighteouf- 
nefs. 

THE  mild  influence  of  chriflianity  foftens 
the  horrors  of  war,  and  humanizes  the  feroc 
ity  of  courage  ;  while  it  animates  the  virtu 
ous  warrior  to  purfue  the  bloody  conflidl 
with  invincible  fpirit  and  bravery  to  the 
point  of  victory,  it  there  fets  bounds  to  his 
career,  difpofes  him  to  fpare  the  vanquiftied 
enemy,  and  to  confole  the  calamity  of  defeat 
and  captivity  with  the  meek  and  generous 
language  and  treatment  of  fympathy  and  be 
neficence. 

THAT  a  contrary  fpirit  of  licentioufnefs, 
difcord,  and  perfecution,  has  frequently  and 
greatly  deformed  the  beauty,  and  ruined  the 
happinefs  of  chriftian  focieties  and  nations, 
is  acknowledged  and  deplored.     The  corrupt 
and  reftlefs  paffions  of  mankind,  which  too 
often  pervert  the  bed  things  to  the  vilefl  pur- 
pofes,  have  proftituted  the  mod  pure  and  be 
nevolent  religion,  which  the  world  ever  be 
held,  to  a  cloak  of  covetoufnefs  and  hypoc- 


t    21    ] 

rify,  to  an  engine  of  ambition,  impurity,  and 
revenge.  A  falfe  and  fiery  zeal  has  imagin 
ed  it  was  doing  GOD  fervice  by  harafling 
and  tormenting  every  fedl,  which  differed 
from  its  own.  A  fpecious  and  prepofterous 
charity  indulgent  to  men  of  loofe  and  dan 
gerous  principles  and  practices,  has  been  eager 
to  exclude  from  fociety,  and  brand  with  in 
famy  thofe  whom  it  ftigmatized  as  puritans 
and  fanatics,  becaufe  they  were  not  as  lib 
eral  as  itfelf.  But  fuch  events,  as  they  ver 
ify  the  truth  of  gofpel  predictions,  fo  they 
furnifh  110  folid  objection  againfl  its  divine 
original,  or  the  purity  and  benevolence  of  its 
genius,  its  dodlrines,  or  precepts.  For  will 
any  prefume  to  aflert,  that  the  gofpel  gives 
the  finalleft  encouragement  to  licentioufnefs, 
intolerance,  or  cruelty  ?  No  ;  it  forbids 
and  oppofes  them  with  all  the  energy  of 
divine  authority,  juftice,  and  love. 

WE  add  5thly,  that  the  gofpel  is  adapted 
to  prove  a  fource  of  joy  to  mankind  under 
that  heavy  burden  of  want,  difeafe,  and  fuf- 
fering,  to  which  fin  has  fubjedled  them. 

ARE  we  then  to  expedl  that  it  will  exert, 
as  in  the  days  of  its  firft  promulgation,  a  mi 
raculous  power  to  fatisfy  their  defires,  and 
to  heal  their  fufferings  and  difeafes  ?  No  ; 


t    $2    ] 

but  we  are  warranted  to  expect  effects,  in 
fome  refpects,  ftill  more  falutary  and  fubftan- 
tial  :  to  expect  that  it  will  eradicate,  or  re- 
flrain  thofe  vicious  principles  and  paffions, 
which  are  the  inexhauflible  fprings  of  hu 
man  wants  and  miferies.  That  it  will  mor 
tify  that  covetoufnefs  which  impels  the  ava 
ricious  to  worfhip  the  world,  and  to  facrifice 
their  health,  liberty,  happinefs,  and  falvation 
to  this  infatiable  idol.  That  it  will  crucify 
thofe  unbridled  luftsandaffedUons  which  con- 
fume  the  property,  enfeeble  the  bodies,  and 
deflroy  the  fouls  of  thofe  who  indulge  them. 
That  it  will  humble  that  pride,  and  correct 
thofe  falfe  and  dangerous  principles  of  hon 
our,  which  are  the  caufes  of  endlefs  vexa 
tion,  difcord,  and  diftrefs  ;  and  will  imprefs 
the  hearts  of  men  with  a  full  conviction  that 
it  is  infinitely  more  noble  and  generous  to 
forgive  injuries  and  affronts  than  to  revenge 
them  ;  to  defpife  the  reproaches  of  a  mif- 
judging  world,  than,  by  attempting  the  vin 
dication  of  character,  and  the  acquifkion  of 
glory  in  fingle  combat,  to  brave  the  laws  of 
their  country,  pierce  with  exquifite  anguifh 
the  tendereft  fenfibilities  of  nature,  fpurn  the 
love,  and  defy  the  vengeance  of  their  SAV-' 
IOUR,  and  their  GOD. 


[    23     ] 

WE  are  moreover  to  expert  that  the  gofpel 
of  Chrift  will  prove  a  fource  of  fupport  and 
confolation  to  the  piotis  believer,  under  all 
the  inevitable  exigencies  and  calamities  of 
life,  by  giving  him  juft  conceptions  of  the 
glory  and  government  of  GOD,  and  a  cordial 
acquiefcence  in  all  the  manifeftations  of  his 
will  and  difpenfations  of  his  providence:  that 
it  will  give  him  the  joyful  teftimony  of  a 
pure,  approving  confcience,  and  a  comforta 
ble  affurance  that  all  his  trials  and  fuffer- 
ings  are  the  merciful  corrections  of  a  mofl 
wife  and  gracious  Father,  who  will  blefs 
them  for  the  advancement  and  confirmation 
of  his  faith  and  holinefs,  and  for  increafing 
his  preparation  for  the  enjoyment  of  com 
plete  and  everlafting  bleffednefs  :  that  how 
ever  he  be  poor  and  deftitute,  yet  he  is  rich 
in  the  pofTeflion  of  all  things  in  the  fulnefs 
of  GOD  through  the  all-fufEciency  of  Chrift, 
and  in  the  unfearchable  treafares  of  his  grace 
and  glory.  How  often  have  the  deftitute, 
the  dejedled,  and  heavy  laden  fled  for  refuge 
to  their  gracious  Redeemer,  and  found  reft 
and  peace  to  their  weary  fouls  ?  Under  the 
fierceft  ftorms  of  affliction  and  perfecution 
the  hope  of  the  gofpel  is  an  anchor  of  the 
foul.  The  depth  and  darkaefs  of  an  hor~ 


[    24    ] 

rible  pit  and  a  miry  clay  are  not  Ib  pro 
found  and  impenetrable  as  to  exclude  from 
the  humble  fuppliant  every  glimmering  prof- 
pecft  of  deliverance,  or  forever  to  debar  his 
eyes  from  the  light  of  liberty,  or  his  lips  from 
the  fong  of  joy  !  For  if  the  high  and  the  lofty 
One,  who  inhabiteth  eternity,  will  defcend 
and  dwell  with  the  humble  and  the  contrite, 
is  it  poffible  that  they  fliould  not  be  revived 
and  comforted  by  the  prefence  and  com 
munion  of  a  friend  and  Father  fo  infinitely 
all-fufficient  in  power,  wifdom,  tendernefs, 
and  love  ? 

WE  have  only  to  add,  that  the  gofpel  is 
a  fource  of  joy  to  the  fincere  believer  under 
the  profpedl,  the  approaches,  and  the  pangs 
of  death.  However  the  philofopher  may 
affecft,  in  the  pride  of  his  wifdom,  to  defpife 
it  ;  however  the  warrior  may  lofe,  or  brave 
its  terrors  in  the  fire  and  tumult  of  conflidl, 
or  the  profpecSl  of  vidlory  and  glory  ;  or  the 
martyr  be  tranfported  above  the  dread  and 
feeling  of  its  formidable  afpedl,  and  cruel 
tortures  by  a  confcioufnefs  of  the  redlitude 
and  dignity  of  his  caufe,  the  prefence  of  his 
GOD,  and  the  expectation  of  a  crown  of 
heavenly  bleffednefs  ;  yet,  to  the  retired  and 
contemplative  mind,  death  is  naturally  cloth- 


[    25    ] 

ed  with  forms  of  darknefs  and  difmay.  From 
the  dread  of  which  to  what  can  we  flee  for 
deliverance  but  to  that  gofpel,  which  brings 
life  and  immortality  to  light  ?  Are  we  op- 
preiTed  by  a  confcioufnefs  of  fin  with  the 
apprehenlion  of  appearing  in  the  prefence  of 
afpotlefs  Judge  ?  The  gofpelprefentsthe  moft 
animating  hope  of  acquittance  at  his  right 
eous  tribunal.  Are  we  diftreffed  with  a  pain 
ful  idea  of  being  torn  away  from  all  our 
precious  relatives  and  friends  ?  The  gofpel 
encourages  us  to  expedl  a  blifsful  union*  with 
angels  and  the  fpirits  of  jufl  men  made  per 
fect  ;  to  find  a  friend  and  a  father  in  GOD  ; 
to  fee  his  face  in  peace,  and  drink  in  the 
moft  raviihing  pleafures  from  the  light  of 
his  countenance.  Is  it  painful  to  bid  an  ev- 
erlafting  farewell  to  all  the  enjoyments  of 
life  ?'  The  gofpel  promifes  an  inheritance 
incorruptible,  a  manfion,  a  crown,  a  throne, 
a  life  of  endlefs  reft  and  glory  in  the  pref 
ence  of  Jefus  Chrift.  Are  we  mortified  with 
the  apprehenfion  of  committing  our  bodies 
to  the  deformity  and  corruption  of  the 
grave  ?  Our  hearts  may  be  cheered  with  the 
blifsful  profpecT:  of  their  refurredlion  to  a 
ftate  of  heavenly  ftrength,  honour,  and  im- 
•mortality  ;  of  their  transformation  into  a 


[    26    J 

likenefs  to  the  glorious  body  of  our  Re 
deemer,  and  filming  like  the  brightnefs  of 
the  fun  forever  in  the  kingdom  of  his  Father. 
And  are  not  thefe  exalted  and  everlafting 
benefits  amply  fufficient  to  counterbalance 
all  the  wants,  labours  and  fufferings  of  life 
and  death,  and  to  evince  the  truth  of  our 
doctrine,  that  the  gofpel  is  adapted  and  de- 
figned  to  be  a  fource  of  great  joy  to  all  who 
cordially  believe  and  obey  it  I 

MAY  we  not  then  juftly  conclude  the  di£- 
courfe  with  this  general  inference,  which  ap 
plies  the  fubjecl  to  the  prefent  occafion,  That 
if  we  are  fatisfied  from  knowledge,  from 
faith,  and  efpecially  from  our  own  experi 
ence,  that  the  gofpel  is  indeed  fuch  a  fource 
of  joy  as  has  been  reprefented,  then  it  is  our 
duty,  our  intereft,  and  happinefs,  to  difrufe 
the  bleffings  of  it,  by  all  fuitable  means  and 
exertions,  through  every  divifion  and  habi 
tation  of  the  human  race  ?  Such  exertions 

niufl  be  highly  pleafing  and  honourable  to* 

•  . 

GOD  our  SAVIOUR  ;  for  there  is  joy  in 
heaven,  joy  in  the  prefence  of  the  angels, 
over  one  finner  who  repenteth  ;  and  if  the 
converfion  of  one  produces  fuch  joy  in  heaven, 
what  gladnefs  would  refult  from  the  conver 
fion  of  a  multitude  ?-  And  if  chriftians  cor- 


I    27    ] 

dially  unite  in  the  execution  of  a  defign 
which  employs  infinite  power,  wifdom,  and 
love,  have  they  not  great  reafon  to  hope  they 
fhall  be  ultimately  fuccefsful  ?  The  defigns 
of  GOD  mufl  prevail,  and  become  finally 
triumphant.  Happy  thofe  who  have  co 
operated  in  the  promotion  of  their  fuccefs  ; 
they  lhall  ultimately  fliare  in  the  honour  and 
bleffednefs  of  their  perfect  accomplifhment. 

SHOULD  we  not  therefore  catch  that  fpirit 
of  heavenly  companion,  which  the  gofpel 
breathes  toward  human  creatures,  periihing 
in  ignorance  and  wickednefs,  and  zealoufly 
exert  it  in  every  warrantable  method  for 
their  deliverance  ? 

AND  is  not  the  condition  of  great  num 
bers  of  our  fellow-countrymen  truly  danger 
ous  and  deplorable  ?  Removed  into  the  un 
cultivated  regions  of  our  exteiifive  country, 
fubje6ted  to  labour,  hardfhip,  and,  in  a  meat 
ure,  to  the  want  of  thofe  means  of  knowl 
edge,  piety,  and  happinefs  which  we  fo  abun 
dantly  enjoy,  are  they  not  in  danger  of  de 
generating  into  ignorance,  vice,  and  barbari 
ty,  of  becoming  irreligious,  diforclerly,  and 
jniferable  among  themfelves,  ufelefs,  not  to 
fay  peftilent,  members  of  fociety,  and  finally 
outcaftsfrom  the  kingdom  of  GOD  ?  If  then 


[     28    ] 

our  hearts  are  melted  and  expanded  with  the 
precious  dodlrines  and  bleffings  of  the  got- 
pel,  we  fhall  be  zealous  and  a6tive  to  diffufe 
its  light,  purity,  and  happinefs,  among  our 
diflant  brethren. 

AND  may  not  the  members  of  this  fociety, 
inftituted  for  the  propagation  of  the  gofpel, 
among  the  Indians  and  others.,  congratulate 
themfelves  on  the  honour  and  happinefs  of 
being  engaged  in  a  defign,  fo  dignified  and 
benevolent  ?  May  they  not  expect,  with  a 
proportionable  degree  of  confidence,  the 
countenance  and  patronage  of  government, 
the  afliftance  of  the  influential  and  opulent, 
and  the  good  wimes  and  prayers  of  all,  who 
acknowledge,  who  experience  the  truth,  the 
joy,  and  the  charity  of  the  gofpel  ?  What 
though  the  evidences  and  profpec~ls  of  fuc- 
cefs  may  not  be  fo  numerous  and  promifing 
as  fully  to  fatisfy  the  wimes  of  the  pious  and 
the  munificent,  yet  they  Ihould  confider  that 
former  exertions  for  the  converfion  of  the 
favages  have  not  been  wholly  unavailing. 
If  the  harveft  of  converts  has  been  compara 
tively  fmall,  yet  has  it  not  been  fufficient  to 
compenfate  all  the  expenfe  and  labour,  which 
have  been  beftowed  upon  it  ?  If  the  value  of 
one  foul  is  far  greater  than  of  all  the  treaf- 


t    29    ] 

xires  and  glories  of  the  world,  furely  the  fal- 
nation  of  one,  and  efpecially  of  a  number,  muft 
be  an  ample  recompenfe  for  all  the  arduous 
and  expenfive  means,  which  have  been  em 
ployed  for  its  accomplifhment. 

AND    from   the  meafure  of  civilization, 
knowledge,  and  religion,  flill    retained  by 
our  brethren  in  the  new  and  diftant  parts  of 
our  country,  and  from  the  cheerfulnefs  and 
gratitude  with  which  they  appear  to  accept 
and  fecond  the  attempts,  which  have  been 
made  to  increafe  the   diffusion  of  chriftian 
knowledge  and  piety  among  them,  the  prof- 
peel  of  fuccefs  is  ftill  more  promiling.     But 
whatever  the  degree  of  this   fuccefs  mall  fi 
nally  prove  to  be,  tjtiofe  who  are   fincerely 
engaged  in  the  promotion  of  it  will  experi 
ence  the  fuperior  pleafure  of  gratifying  their 
own  charitable  affections,  and  a  high  fati£- 
fadlion  in  the  confcious  fincerity  of  their  in 
tentions  to  honour  their  GOD,  their  SAVIOUR, 
and  his  religion,  and  to  advance   the  tempo 
ral  and  eternal   happinefs  of  their  human 
brethren.     Thefe  pious  and  benevolent  in 
tentions,  and  the  animating  profpecls  of  ex 
tending  the  bleffings  of  falvation  to  millions 
of  the  human  race,  may  be   vaft  and  un 
bounded.     For  thefe  bleffings  are  not  limit- 


I    30    ] 

ed  to  any  period  of  time,  or  defcription  of 
people.    The  divine  commiffion  :  "  Go  teach 
all  nations  ;  go  preach  the  gofpel  to  every 
creature,"  flill  retains  its  gracious  and  facred 
authority.     The  declarations,  the  promifes, 
the  benefits  of  endlefs  life  and  happiiiefs  ihay 
be  proclaimed  with  perfect  fincerity  not  on 
ly  to  the  learned,  the  opulent  and  the  polifh- 
ed  inhabitants,  of  civilized  countries,  but  to 
the  fwarthy  African,  the  plundering  Arab, 
the  roving  Tartar,  and  the  wandering  Sav 
age  who  traverfes  the  wilds  of  America,  from 
the  defert  plains  of  Patagonia  to  the  dreary 
mountains  of  the  frozen  pole  :  and  if  they 
will  but  liften  to  the  joyful  found,  embrace 
its  propofals,  and  comply  with  its  prefcrip-r 
tions,    their    hearts    fhall    be    melted   and 
moulded  to  a  fpirit  of  meeknefs,  piety,  and 
love,  and  finally  bleffed  with  the  enjoyment 
of  everlafling  peace,  purity,  and  glory  in  the 
kingdom  of  GOD. 

How  elevating  and  delightful  muft  be  the 
reflection  to  the  hearts  of  all,  who  are  lin- 
cerely  engaged  in  this  benevolent  defign, 
that  their  efforts  may  ultimately  fpring  up 
into  fuch  an  exuberant  harveft  of  bleffings 
to  their  fellow-creatures,  and  be  finally 
crowned  with  an  immeafurable  reward  ? 


[    31    ] 

FOR  if  the  holy  and  munificent  Judge  of 
all  human  creatures  and  a&ions,  will,  at  laft 
openly  applaud  and  recompenfe  thofe  who 
have  miniftered  relief  to  the  natural  wants 
and  fufferings  of  their  neighbours,  with 
what  an  emphafis  of  fuperiof  applaufe  will  he 
fay  to  thofe  who  have  been  liberal  and  adlive 
in  contributing  fpiritual  food  and  confola- 
tion  to  the  hungry  arid  periming  fouls  of  fin- 
ners,  "  Come  ye  blefTed  of  my  Father  inherit 
the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world,  for  I  was  hungry, 
thirfty,  naked,  fick,  and  in  prifon,  and  ye 
vifited  me,  and  granted  me  comfort  and  re 
lief  ;  for  in  as  much  as  ye  did  it  unto  one 
of  the  leaft  of  thefe  my  brethren,  ye  have 
done  it  unto  me." 


t 


A  M  E  N. 


* 


C    33    ] 

NOTES. 

NOTE    [A.]    J>.    6, 

THE  time  especially  intended,  was  immediately  after  the 
flood,  when  mankind  were  not  perverted  and  corrupted  with  er 
ror,  and  idolatry  ;  but  it  is  probable  that  the  apostle  intends  to 
suggest  that  the  perfections  of  GOD  are  discoverable  by  his 
works,  and  that  all  might,  from  this  source,  obtain  some  just 
ideas  of  them,  if  they  were  disposed  to  attend  with  a  humble,  imt 
and  fixed  application. 


NOTE  [B.]  p.  6. 

THOSE  who  have  been  conversant  with  Roman  authors  will 
readily  recollect,  or  easily  find,  the  testimonies  referred  to  by 
the  preacher ;  but  the  author  principally  intended  is  Seneca. 
Those  who  are  able  to  read  the  works  of  this  philosopher  in  his 
own  language,  and  are  disposed  to  examine  the  description 
which  hegivesofthe  human  awl  the  Roman  character, and  com 
pare  it  with  that  of  the  apostle,  may  consult  Seneca  de  brevi- 
tate  vitre,  Chapts.  2d,  12th,  14th,  and  16th;  and  de  beneficiis 
JLibr.  3d,  Chapts.  15,  16,  Libr.  5th,  Chapts.  15th  and  17th. 

FOR  the  satisfaction  of  the  English  reader,  I  will  take  the 
liberty  to  transcribe  a  passage  or  two  from  an  abstract  made  by 
Sir  ROGER  U'ESTRANQE,  in  which  he  affirms,  "that  he  has 
reduced  all  Seneca's  scattered  ethics  to  their  proper  heads, 
without  any  additions  of  his  own,  except  such  as  were  absolutely- 
necessary  for  connecting  them  together."  He  introduces 
Seneca,  declaring  that,  u  Some  are  ungrateful  to  their  own 
country  ;  and  their  country  no  less  ungrateful  to  others  ;  so 
that  the  complaint  of  ingratitude  reaches  all  men.  Doth 
not  the  son  wish  for  the  death  of  his  father  ;  and  the  husband 
for  that  of  his  wife  ?  But  who  can  look  for  gratitude  in  an 
age  of  so  many  gaping  and  craving  appetites,  where  all  peo 
ple  take,  and  none  give  ?  In  an  age  of  license  to  all  sorts 
of  vanity  and  wickedness  ;  as  lust,  gluttony,  avarice,  envy, 
ambition,  sloth,  insolence,  levity,  contumacy,  fear,  rashness, 
private  discords,  and  public  evils,  extravagant  and  ground 
less  wishes,  vain  confidence,  sickly  affections,  shameless 
impieties,  rapine  authorized,  and  the  violation  of  all  things 
sacred  and  profane  ;  obligations  are  pursued  with  sword  a_nd 
poison  ;  benefits  are  turned  into  crimes  ;  and  that  blood 
most  seditiously  spilt,  for  which  every  honest  man  should  ex 
pose  his  own.  Those  who  should  be  the  preservers  of  their 
coiuitry,  are  the  destroyers  of  it ;  and  it  is  matter  of  dignity  to 

i 


[    34    ] 

trample  upon  'the  government.  The  sword  gives  law,  and 
mercenaries  take  up  arms  against  their  masters.  Among 
these  turbulent,  and  unruly  motions,  what  hope  is  there  of  find-? 
ing  honesty  or  good  faith  ;  mercy,  modesty,  or  religion  ?" 
L'Estrange's  Abstract,  Boston  edition,  of  1792.  If  the  reader 
wishes  to  see  the  sable  picture  completed,  he  may  consult  the 
same  abstract,  pages  132,  133,  and  327. 


NOTE  p.    15,   (two  lines  from  the  bottom.) 

THE  ministers  of  Boston,  Doctors  Cotton  Mather,  Colman, 
Sewall,  Prince,  and  others,  in  what  they  call  an  attestation  to 
Mr.  Mayhew's  account  of  pious  Indians  at  Martha's  Vineyard, 
given  at  Boston,  June  14th,  1726  ;  assert  that  "  twice  seven 
years  had  not  passed  away,  after  the  beginning  of  the  Massa* 
chusetts  Colony,  before  the  renowned  ELIOT,  a  good  man,  full 
of  the  holy  Spirit,  and  moved  by  him,  set  forward  the  good 
work,  "  and  the  hand  of  the  LORD  was  with  him"  and  with  a 
victorious  labour  he  became  master  of  the  Indian  language,  and 
in  that  language  preached  to  many  villages  of  the  savages  ;  un 
til,  by  the  blessing  of  God  on  his  laborious  diligence,  many  be-r 
lieved  and  were  turned  unto  the  Lord.  The  Indians  being  so 
successfully  instructed  in  the  word  of  truth  and  gospel  of  sal 
vation,  soon  had  schools  erected  among  them  ;  and  learning  to 
read  and  write,  this  indefatigable  servant  of  GOD,  first  of  all, 
translated  the  Bible  into  their  language  ;  and  added  a  version 
of  the  Psalms  in  Indian  metre,  whereof  they  became  skilful  and 
graceful  singers.'*  They  further  assert  that  the  consequence 
of  all  this  was,  the  forming  of  congregations,  the  collecting  and 
establishing  churches,  and  administering  ordinances,  in  several 
villages  of  Indians,  who  attended  upon  them  with  apparent  sincer 
ity,  constancy,  and  devotion.  In  this  account  of  pious  Indians, 
by  Mr.  MAYHEW,  the  reader  may  find  such  an  history  of  the 
conversion,  the  pious  and  exemplary  lives,  and  peaceful  deaths 
of  many  of  those  people  of  both  sexes,  and  of  all  ranks  and  ages, 
as  will  afford  him  a  satisfactory  conviction  of  their  having  im 
bibed  the  Spirit,  enjoyed  the  comforts,  and  practised  the  duties 
of  Christianity,  with  a  truly  evangelical  sincerity. 

THOSE  who  have  read  Mr.  David  Brainard's  journal  of  the  rise 
and  progress  of  a  work  of  grace  among  the  Indians  in  New  Jersey 
and  Pennsylvania,  will  recollect  the  account  he  gives  of  the  pow 
erful  and  surprising  influence  of  the  gospel  upon  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  those  savage  people  ;  especially  upon  one  who  had 
been  a  noted  conjurer,  [pow  wow]  drunkard  and  murderer ; 
and  who,  like  Simpn  Magus,  "  gave  out,  that  he  was  some 
great  one,  to  whom* they  all  gave  heed,  from  the  least  to  the 
greatest,  saying,  this  man  is  the  great  power  of  God  ;"  but 
who  became,  not  a  pretended,  but,  apparently,  a  real  subject  qf 


[    35    ] 

the  faith  and  holiness  of  the  gospel  ;  a  zealous  defender,  and 
practical  preacher  of  the  truth  which  he  once  attempted  to 
obstruct  and  destroy.  See  Brainard's  Journal,  page  154,  and 
221. 


NOTE  [C.]  p.   19. 

LORD  Bolingbroke,  in  the  5th  vol.  of  hk.  works,  page  188, 
as  quoted  by  Dr.  Fuller  in  his  "Gosjiel  its  oivn  ivitness"  ac 
knowledges  that,  '*  the  gospel  is  in  all  cases  one  continued  les 
son  of  the  strictest  morality,  of  justice,  of  benevolence,  and 
of  universal  charity." 

VOLTAIRE,  quoted  by  the  above  author,  in  page  69  of  his 
"  Gosfiel  its  own  ivitncss"  asserts  that  "  wherever  Society  is 
established,  there  it  is  necessary  to  have  religion,  for  religion 
which  watches  over  the  crimes  that  are  secret,  is,  in  fact,  the 
only  law  which  a  man  carries  about  with  him  ;  the  only  one 
which  places  the  punishment  at  the  side  of  the  guilt  ;  and 
which  operates  as  forcibly  in  solitude  and  darkness  as  in  the 
broad  and  open  face  of  day."  This  cannot  be  affirmed  with 
dxact  truth  of  any  other  religion  but  that  of  the  gospel. 

LORD  Shaftsbury  observes,  that  "  whoever  by  any  strong 
persuasion  or  settled  judgment,  think*  in  the  main,  that  virtue 
causes  happiness,  and  vice  misery,  carries  with  him  that  secu 
rity  and  assistance  to  virtue  which  is  required" or,  "  if  he 

believes  a  GOD,  dispensing  rewards  and  piurishmenls  to  virtue 
and  vice  'in  a  future"  life  ;  "  he  carries  with  him  still  the 
same  advantage  and  security  ;  whilst  his  belief  is  steady, 
and  no  ways  wavering  or  doubtful."  And  although  he  la 
bours  to  prove  that  this  hope  of  reward  and  fear  of  punish 
ment,  has  too  great  an  influence  on  the  mind,  tends  to  increase 
the  power  of  self  love  beyond  all  clue  bounds  of  proportion, 
and  to  swallow  up  all  generous  and  benevolent  principles  and 
motives,  yet  he  acknowledges,  that,  "  if  by  the  hope  of  reward 
be  understood  the  love  and  desire  of  virtuous  enjoyment,  or 
of  the  very  practice  and  exercise  of  virtue  in  another  life  ;  the 
expectation  or  hope  of  this  kind  is  so  far  from  being  derogato 
ry  to  virtue,  that  it  is  the  evidence  of  our  loving  it  the  more 
sincerely,  and  for  its  own  sake."  Characteristics,  vol.  2, 
page  67  and  65. 

Now  if  his  Lordship  would  have  conceded,  as  may  be  pre 
sumed  he  would,  that  the  Christian  religion  presents  to  the 
minds  of  men  the  clearest  and  strongest  views  and  evidences 
of  future  rewards  and  punishments,  and  that  the  nature  of 
these  rewards  and  punishments,  and  the  hope  and  fear  which 
they  excite,  are  such  as  he  requires,  and  even  admits  to  be 
conducive  to  the  sincere  and  constant  practice  of  virtue,  then 
he  acknowledges,  implicitly  at  least,  that  this  religion  has  a 
powerful  influence  to  promote  safety,  order,  and  the  happiness 
of  society. 


C    36    ) 

APPENDIX. 


A  PARTICULAR  account  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel,  of  its  operations,  and  funds,  was  given  at  the  close  of 
the  Discourse,  preached  before  them  by  Dr.  LATHROP,  the  last 
year.  It  is  not  necessary  that  it  be  here  repeated. 

THE  permanent  funds  of  the  Society  remain  as  stated  by  their 
Treasurer  in  his  Report,  published  in  the  discourse  just  men 
tioned.*  The  General  Court,  willing  to  increase  the  means 
and  usefulness  of  the  Society,  added^e  hundred  dollars  to  their 
usual  grant,  making  it  a  thousand,  for  the  current  year.  This 
addition  was  made  specially  with  a  view  to  enable  the  Society 
to  establish  and  support  schools,  in  Maine,  in  places  where  the 
inhabitants  are  unable  to  educate  their  children.  Beside  this 
grant*  two  hundred  and  fifty  five  dollars,  twenty  seven  cents, 
were  collected  after  the  delivery  of  the  preceding  Anniversary 
Discourse. 

SUCH  have  been  the  means  of  the  Society.  They  have  em 
ployed  them  in  supporting  Mess'rs.  MAYHEW,  HAWLEY,  and 
SERGEANT,  who  minister  to  Indian  congregations,  at  Martha's 
Vineyard,  Marshpee,  and  New  Stockbridge.  Five  Missiona 
ries  also  have  been  sent  Jhe  past  season  to  preach  the  gospei 
among  that  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  Maine,  who  are  either 
wholly  destitute  of,  or  but  sparingly  enjoy,  the  means  of  relig-' 
ion.  Four  hundred  dollars  have  been  expended  in  promoting 
school  education  for  children,  in  new  plantations  ;  and  the  same 
sum  in  books,  for  distribution  ;  such  as  Bibles,  Testaments, 
Psalm  books,  Primers,  Spelling  books,  Doddridge's  Rise  and 
Progress,  Token  for  Children,  Divine  Songs,  and  a  variety  of 
other  religious  books  and  tracts  ;  a  great  part  of  which  have 
been  distributed  by  the  Missionaries,  and  others,  to  whom  they 
have  been  committed  for  that  purpose. 

FROM  the  Journals  of  the  several  Missionaries,  and  informa 
tion  received  from  other  authentic  sources,  there  is  reason  to 
believe  that  the  efforts  of  the  Society  have  been  crowned  with 
an  encouraging  degree  of  success.  The  labours  of  the  Mis 
sionaries  have  been  gratefully  acknowledged  ;  the  books  have 
been  received  and  read  with  avidity,  and  hopeful  improvement, 
and  the  aid  and  encouragement  given  to  schools  has  been  pe 
culiarly  acceptable,  and  evinced  that  this  method  of  benefiting 
that  hardy  and  enterprising  class  of  people,  who  are  extending, 
the  settlement  of  our  country,  may  be  pursued  on  a  larger  scale 
with  eminent  advantage.  Among  the  good  effects  of  these  ex 
ertions  of  the  Society,  are  the  preservation,  as  far  as  they  have 
influence,  of  the  good  habits  of  these  emigrants,  formed  in  the 
places  of  their  nativity,  the  advancement  of  Christian  piety,  civil 

*  Total  amount  of  funds,  23,417  DoUs.  36  Cts.-Auuual  income,  1/145  Dolls,  83  Cts»- 


[    37    ] 

order,  morality  ,and  the  establishment  of  churches,  forming  con-~ 
gregations,  the  administration  of  the  ordinances  of  baptism,  and 
the  "Lord's  Supper,  and  exciting  and  cherishing  dispositions 
and  wishes  among  the  people,  permanently  to  enjoy  the  benefit 
Df  these  and  other  good  institutions. 

THE  Society  learn  with  pleasure  from  their  Missionaries, that 
there  exists  a  general  disposition  among  the  people  in  the  new 
plantations,  according  to  their  ability,  to  support  schools  and 
religious  institutions  ;  but  their  means  are  yet  so  inadequate, 
that  the  aid  of  the  Society  is  peculiarly  acceptable.  A  contin 
ued  and  increased  attention  to  these  hardy  and  useful  citizens 
is  so  obviously  promotive  of  the  religious,  moral,  civil,  and  so 
cial  interests  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  so  much  for  the  pecu 
niary  advantage  of  the  proprietors  of  lands  in  this  part  of  the 
State,  that  the  Society  confidently  hope  for  the  continued  aid  of 
the  Legislature  ;  and  that  the  gentlemen  who  hold  here  large 
tracts  of  unsettled  lands,  will  be  induced,  from  the  double  mo 
tive  of  interest  and  benevolence,  to  contribute  liberally  to  a  pur 
pose  so  laudable.  The  Society  hold  themselves  pledged  to  a 
faithful  use  of  all  funds  deposited  in  their  Treasury.  It  is  their 
pleasure  to  be  the  stewards  and  almoners  of  the  Common 
wealth,  and  of  pious  and  wealthy  individuals. 


OFFICERS  of  the  SOCIETY  for  the  year  ending  MAY   1805. 

Hon.  James  Sullivan,  Esq.  President, 

Hon.  Oliver  Wendell,  Esq.   Vice-President, 

Ebenezer  Storer,  Esq.   Treasurer, 

Rev.  John  Eliot,  D.  D.  Vice-Treasurer, 

Rev.  Jedidiah  Morse,  D.  D.  Secretary, 

Rev.  Abiel  Holmes,  Assistant-Secretary, 

Rev.  John  Lathrop,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Joseph  Eckley,  D.  D.      . 

William  Phillips,  Esq.  )>  Select  Committee. 

Mr.  Samuel  Salisbury, 

Rev.  Jedidiah  Morse,  D.  D, 


The  following  is  a  List  of  Members  living,  January   1st,   1805. 

Rev.  Thomas  Barnard,  D.  D. 
Alden  Bradford,  Esq. 
Rev.  William  Channing, 
Hon.  Richard  Cranch, 
Hon.  Francis  Dana, 
Hon.  John  Davis, 
Hon.  Thomas  I>awes, 


f    38    ] 

Rev.  Joseph  Eckley,  D.  D. 

Samuel  Eliot,  Esq. 

Rev.  John  Eliot,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Emmons,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Levi  Frisbie, 

David  S.  Greenough,  Esq. 

Rev.  Abiel  Holmes, 

Mr.  David  Hyslop, 

Rev.  John  Lathrop,  D.  D. 

Hon.  Benjamin  Lincoln, 

Rev.  Joseph  McKean,  D.  D.  President  of  Bow- 

doin   College, 

Rev.  Jedidiah  Morse,  D.  D. 
Samuel  Parkman,  Esq. 
Rev.  Elijah  Parish, 
Eliphalet  Pearson,  L.  L.  D.  Hancock,  Professor 

of  the  Hebrew  atfd  Oriental  Languages,  and 

the  English  Language, 
William  Phillips,  Esg. 
Rev.  Eliphalet  Porter, 
Daniel  D.  Rodgcrs,  Esq, 
Mr.  Samuel  Salisbury, 
Ebenezer  Storer,  Esq. 
Hon.  James  Sullivan,  Esq. 
Hon.  Cotton  Tufts,  Esq. 
Hon.  Dudley  A.  Tyng,  Esq. 
Hon.  Oliver  Wendell, 
Rev.  Samuel  West,  D.  D. 
Mr.  James  White, 
Ebenezer  Wight,  Esq. 
Samuel  Williams,  L.  L.  D. 
Mr.  William  Woodbridge. 


FORM  of  a  BEQUEST,  or  LEGACY. 

Item. — I  give  and  bequeath  the  sum  of  to 

the  Society  for  Propagating  the  gospel  among  the  Indians  and 
others  in  North  America  ;  to  be  applied  either  to  the  general 
objects  of  the  Institution,  or  to  such  particular  purposes,  con 
sistent  with  those  objects,  as  the  donor  may  think  proper- 


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